Waterville, Maine - The Colby Women's Lacrosse team finished their regular season on a high note with a dominant 17-7 win against Bates College. The Mules continue their winning streak against the Bobcats as this marks the seventh consecutive win for Colby against their NESCAC rivals dating back to 2017. The win improves the Mules' overall record to 11-4 and their conference record to 7-3, securing them the fourth seed in the NESCAC playoffs. The Bobcats, on the other hand, dropped to 4-11 overall and 1-9 in conference play.

The Mules took control of the game early on and found the back of the net 13 times by halftime, keeping Bates at bay for the remainder of the game. Colby's strategy allowed them to maintain their momentum throughout the game, leaving no opportunity for Bates to catch up. The first half saw seven different players score goals for the Mules, with Julia Jardina leading the way with three goals and an assist. Gianna Bruno also had a solid performance with two goals and two assists, while Cami McDonald, Elizabeth Hennessey, and Ally Franz each contributed two goals to Colby's victory.

The pace of the game slowed down in the second half, but the Mules managed to score four more goals, two of which were scored by senior Kailey O'Neill. Despite a more relaxed pace in the second half, Colby's offense continued to apply pressure on Bates, while their defense remained steadfast in preventing Bates from making any significant comeback.

In addition to the Mules' impressive offensive performance, the Mules' defense also played a critical role in their victory over Bates. The defense was able to limit Bates to just seven goals, demonstrating their ability to hold their opponents to a low score. Colby's goalkeeper Sarah Hearns was a standout player on defense, making ten saves throughout the game to help anchor the team. 

Up next for Colby College Women's Lacrosse is a quarterfinal matchup against No. 5 Trinity College in the NESCAC playoffs on Saturday.